Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers: Thursday Preview

Game Details
Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers
7.30pm WST Thursday 14 April @ RAC Arena
Watch LIVE on ESPN – available via Kayo or Foxtel
Tickets

Context
The Perth Wildcats are edging closer to securing another Finals berth, but there is still work to be done with four games to go. Adelaide are first up on Thursday night and, despite dropping their last four, the 36ers have been competitive. Perth are coming off a mini drought-breaking win and will be looking to continue that momentum against their traditional rivals. The Wildcats are fourth in the standings while the 36ers are ninth with a record of 7-17.

Pre-game words
Vic Law on the Adelaide 36ers
“Everyone enjoys playing at RAC. It’s a great venue, a great arena, so they aren’t playing for a playoff spot anymore, but they’re playing to win at RAC. This will be our fourth time playing them. Adelaide are a great offensive rebounding team.”

Vic Law on playing at home to end the season
“All the outside factors are great. I’m hoping it’s sunny the last four games as well. But, I don’t really care what the exterior factors are, I just want to go out there and be on the court. Whatever the factors are in those 94 feet that help us win, those better be turned on. I don’t care about anything outside of that.”

Roster Availability 
Michael Frazier II and Mitch Norton return for Thursday night’s game. Both players have been sidelined with hamstring injuries. All 11 contracted players are available for just the third time this season, while development players Kyle Zunic and Ollie Hayes-Brown complete the 13-man lineup.

Opponents to watch out for
Young big man Kai Sotto score 21 points in 17 minutes in his best game of the season on Monday night. Captain Mitch McCarron is also coming off an impressive 17-point, six-assist outing,

Last time they met
It was over a month ago in Adelaide, and the Wildcats controlled the entire game to run away 92-73 winners, with Bryce Cotton, Vic Law and Todd Blanchfield all scoring 20+.

Fun Facts and Stats
Bryce Cotton remains the league's top scorer with 23.0 per game. His best season average was last year with 23.5.
Vic Law owns the two highest scoring games of 2021/22, with 39 and 37-point nights to his name. The 37-point total came in Adelaide’s last visit to RAC Arena.
Adelaide is the only team the Wildcats will play four times in the regular season.
A team has never missed the Finals with 16 wins, but this season 17 wins is expected to be the pass mark for teams vying for the top-four. Perth current sit on 15 wins with four games to play.

History
In their three games so far this year, Perth have won two and Adelaide one. The Wildcats loss came after both teams returned from a COVID-forced extended break.
The Wildcats have won six of the last eight matchups, with their last loss to Adelaide at RAC Arena dating back to December 2019.